11/15 Reading (2 Kings 22-24; Romans 4)

2 Kings 22: Josiah was good and did good things, not deviating at all from King David. I remember reading about Josiah earlier in either a sidebar or notes. I will need to look him up.

Josiah works to make sure the people who are repairing the temple are paid and he learns of the Instruction scroll. When he hears God’s commands in the scroll, he rips his clothes and asks what they need to do. God tells his messengers that he is angry and will eventually destroy the people, but because Josiah works to correct these wrongs, God will make sure he lives and dies in peace.

2 Kings 23: This chapter is all about the efforts of Josiah to right all the wrongs of Judah’s previous kings. He reads the Instruction Scroll to all the people and they all agree to follow it. He destroyed all of the shrines and other objects meant to pay respect to other gods, or the false gods. He also kills all the priests who served the other gods. Nevertheless, God is still angry because of what Manasseh did during his reign. Josiah dies at the end of this chapter. His son, Jehoahaz, ruled after him and went back to the bad ways of his ancestors. He was followed by his brother, Jehoiakim. And…he did bad things too. They never learn.

2 Kings 24: The Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, attacked Judah and other raiding parties also attacked because God made it happen. Jehoiakim originally fell into line but later rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was succeeded by his son, Jehoiachin. Nebuchadnezzar attacks again and takes everything from the city and the temple. He exiles Jehoiachin and names his uncle, Mattaniah, the new king while also renaming him Zedekiah. As with others, he did bad things too.

Romans 4: Now we get to discussion of Abraham. Paul reminds us that Abraham was righteous because of his faith in God, not because he was circumcised. Even though he was circumcised later, he became righteous before this event. Paul then reminds us that Abraham is actually the father of everyone, not just of those who are circumcised.

I really like what the notes from the CEB study bible say for chapter 4:

The story of Abraham and Sarah, with support from David, serves as OT testimony to the gospel. Paul focuses on three things: (1) God’s grace as the source of Abraham’s righteousness; (2) Abraham’s faithful trust in God’s promise–not in his circumcision, his deeds, or the Law–as the basis for his being considered righteous; and (3) the story of Abraham and Sarah as a story of death and resurrection. All who share in this kind of faith in the gospel’s promise of new life through death and resurrection with Christ (Rom 6) are Abraham’s descendants, whether circumcised or not. (p. 282 NT)